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Rays carrying all five starters on ALDS roster

Rays carrying all five starters on ALDS roster

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Maddon on facing Red Sox 3:52

10/3/13: Rays manager Joe Maddon talks about his team's recent run to the postseason and facing the Red Sox in the ALDS

By Adam Berry
/
MLB.com |

BOSTON -- The Rays unveiled their 25-man roster for the American League Division Series on Friday morning, and it contains few surprises and only minor changes from the group that played in the AL Wild Card Game on Wednesday.

Tampa Bay elected to keep all five starting pitchers -- David Price, Matt Moore, Alex Cobb, Chris Archer and Jeremy Hellickson -- for the series against Boston. Hellickson will start Game 4 if necessary, and Archer will work out of the bullpen.

Manager Joe Maddon said that the Rays considered going with lefty Cesar Ramos instead of Wesley Wright but wound up going with the 28-year-old lefty "based on some really minute thoughts, because we feel very strong about Cesar also."

Right-hander Brandon Gomes was another candidate for the final spot in the bullpen.

The Rays also considered keeping three catchers but chose not to, removing Chris Gimenez from the roster. They also did not keep outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, who was used as a defensive replacement in the tiebreaker and the Wild Card Game. That doesn't mean, however, that center fielder Desmond Jennings (tight left hamstring) is fully healthy.

"I would still imagine, or anticipate, taking [Jennings] out [early] today," Maddon said.

The Rays stuck with catchers Jose Molina and Jose Lobaton, and the infield consists of first baseman James Loney, second baseman Ben Zobrist, third baseman Evan Longoria and shortstop Yunel Escobar.

In the outfield they'll have Jennings, Wil Myers, David DeJesus, Sam Fuld, Kelly Johnson, Matt Joyce and Sean Rodriguez. Delmon Young is listed as the designated hitter, with Luke Scott again left off the roster.

Adam Berry is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @adamdberry. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.